150 'Swim to Newtown' at Somerset Hills YMCA

As part of a continuing effort to promote awareness of the importance of paying attention to mental health, the Somerset Hills YMCA on May 5 sponsored The Ripple: Swim to Newtown event, a community-to-community tribute to the families of Newtown, Ct.

The goal was to swim 109 miles, which is the distance from Basking Ridge to Newtown — but the 150 swimmers who participated logged 230 miles, more than twice that distance.

The youngest participating swimmer was four years old and the oldest was 82, according to the YMCA.

Additionally, over 50 volunteers helped to support the event.

Tracking the swimmers' laps and miles logged in the pool were Somerset Hills YMCA volunteers Art Raynes of Basking Ridge, and teen volunteer MacKenzie Marcus of Basking RIdge.

Members of the Ripple: Swim to Newtown Committee were Suzi Pellegrino, Senior Director of Aquatics at the Somerset Hills YMCA; Paul and Benita Kiell of Far Hills; Phyllis and Martino Caretto of Basking Ridge; Art Raynes of Basking Ridge; Jody D'Agostini of Basking Ridge, Chair of the Somerset Hills YMCA Board; Sue Diebold, Senior Director of Healthy Living at the Somerset Hills YMCA; David DeSimone of Bernardsville; Susan Visser, Mental Health Fist Aid Trainer at the Somerset Hills YMCA; and Lauren Luik of Tewksbury, Chair of the Healthy Outcomes Partnership Steering Committee.